Latest news with #InFocus
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Is Manipur ready for a ‘popular government' yet?
Manipur has been under President's rule since February 13, 2025. But this week, a group of 10 MLAs met the Governor and informed him that they would like to form a 'popular government' with the support of a total of 44 MLAs. The Manipur Assembly has a strength of 60. At the same time, the state is again in turmoil over an incident in Gwaltabi village where security forces allegedly asked for the state's name on a bus to be covered up. Angry protesters locked up central government offices, including the office of the Election Commission, and defaced government signboards as part of a state-wide agitation. What is behind the latest episode of civil unrest? What has been the impact of the President's Rule so far? And what are the chances of a 'popular' government being formed in the current scenario? Host: G Sampath Guest: Abhinay Lakshman from The Hindu's Delhi Bureau. Edited by Jude Francis Weston For more episodes of In Focus:
The Hindu
7 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Are advertising and easy access driving rising sugar consumption among Indian children?
The Central Board of Secondary Education, or CBSE, recently mandated the establishment of sugar boards at all its schools. These boards will tell children how much sugar there is in common snacks that they eat versus what the recommended sugar intake is. The move also aims to make school canteens healthier so that the food children have access to on a daily basis is healthy and low in sugar. Why was this move necessary? Reports estimate that by 2030, one of every ten obese children the world over will be from India. India is staring at an obesity crisis among all segments of its population, but public health experts are increasingly worried about the youngest of them – children and adolescents. While diets high in ultra-processed food and lack of physical activity are said to be the main culprits, there is not enough talk about why our diet patterns are changing – relentless advertising and the cheap and easy availability of unhealthy food. Do our advertising laws need to change to ensure such foods are not marketed to children? Do our food labelling laws need to be modified? Will less access help improve diet patterns? Guest: Dr Arun Gupta, paediatrician and convenor of Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest (NAPi) Host: Zubeda Hamid Edited by Jude Francis Weston For more episodes of In Focus:
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Does India's alleged forced repatriation of Rohingya refugees breach international law?
Earlier this month, reports surfaced alleging that Indian authorities had transported dozens of Rohingya refugees to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and subsequently abandoned them in international waters, in an attempt to deport them to Myanmar. However, on May 16, a Supreme Court Bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh declined to pass any interim order to halt the purported deportation. The Court also cast doubt on the credibility of the evidence submitted before it. Meanwhile, the United Nations has launched an inquiry into the incident and has called on the Indian government to cease the inhumane and life-threatening treatment of Rohingya refugees, including their repatriation to perilous conditions in Myanmar. Does India's alleged forced repatriation of Rohingya refugees constitute a violation of international law? Does the deportation of refugees without adherence to due process infringe upon constitutional protections? In the absence of treaty ratification, is India nonetheless bound by the customary international law principle of non-refoulement? What policy reforms are needed to ensure a humane and rights-compliant refugee framework in India? Guest: Colin Gonsalves, senior advocate and founder of Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) Host: Aaratrika Bhaumik Edited by Jude Francis Weston For more episodes of In Focus:
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Could India-U.K. trade deal be a template for other FTAs?
There has been a lot of excitement around the India-U.K. trade deal — PM Narendra Modi termed the deal a 'historic milestone' while announcing that both countries 'successfully concluded an ambitious and mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement', and U.K. PM Keir Starmer recently called it a fantastic deal. India enjoys a trade surplus with the U.K., the deal could help India maintain its competitive edge. Under the deal, India will cut tariffs on 90% of British goods, with 85% becoming duty-free over ten years. In return, the U.K. will abolish duties on selected products, leaving 99% of Indian exports tariff-free. The deal talks about streamlining regulations, which could make India's exports cheaper to the British. Trade between India and the U.K. has grown over the past few decades, and trade relations between the two countries are set to become stronger due to this agreement. The U.K.'s government believes that the FTA will give bilateral trade an annual boost of £25.5 billion by 2040, while India has set a target to double trade to $100 billion by 2030. Given that India is negotiating trade agreements with other countries, can this FTA serve as a template for other deals? Guest: Amrita Saha, Research Fellow, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex. Host: Nivedia. V Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian. Listen to more In Focus podcasts:
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Why did India restrict imports from Bangladesh to just two ports?
Trade-related tensions between India and Bangladesh have been rising. In a seemingly retaliatory move, India has restricted the import of certain goods from Bangladesh to just two sea ports – Kolkata and Nhava Sheva. It has blocked 11 traditional land ports in the North East. This move has caused concern among both Bangladeshi and Indian traders as goods-laden trucks have been stuck at the various land ports. Bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh last fiscal was $10.56 billion. India imported goods worth $1.56 billion, while exporting goods worth $9 billion to Bangladesh. Evidently, India enjoys a huge trade surplus with Bangladesh. So why has India imposed these curbs? What will be their impact on traders and consumers? And what are the chances of this crisis being resolved quickly? Guest: Kallol Bhattacherjee, who covers India-Bangladesh relations for The Hindu. Host: G Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu Recorded by Jude Francis Weston and Vishnoo Jotshi Edited by Jude Francis Weston For more episodes of In Focus:
